0^ .'J^>, °o .^"^ 




vr^' 



0° .^^>^^o 








1% \ .^^' ^ 









^^fi^A. o '-^v 








\ ^.^ :^M€: ^^' 






"^•^o"^ r'^; 















-$- 



Copyright IQ14 

By 

MINNIE JEWELL 



r^ 



0)CIA3T1;9;8 9 



■) 



Views of Decorah 

and 

Happy Remembrances 

of 

...1913,.. 







MAY 20 1914 , 




Milwaukee Depot 



MARY was languishing with the heat, want of sleep, and disappoint- 
ment. I could not afford to send her away to a rest cure, even 
if she had been willing to go. 

We were city born and bred, and our homes had always been in 
Chicago, and when I would urge her to go to some of our lovely parks, 
she only answered : 

"What's the use. I should only be more lonely, and the smell of 
the city is only just over the fence." 

She was right too, for tho ihe pdrk.'> arc lovel}- and the air much 
cooler and fresher than on the streets you do not get away from the 
smell or the echo of the cit\-, so 1 could not hut agree with her. 

I have often stootl at the edge of the lake in Jackson I'ark, and 
fancied I was on the sea shore till I'd look around and sec Field's 




Winnesheik Hotel 



Museum, then, my fancy would flee, for I could not feel I was very far 
from the city m spite of the stretch of water at my feet. 

Night after night when I would return from business, her tired 
white face would urge me to do something for her, but what I did not 
know. She looked so sad, tired, and lonesome, and no wonder. Just two 
weeks before I had fetched her back from a short sojourn in the Mater- 
nity Hospital with empty arms ; the tiny soul sent to us had just fluttered 
its wings on this earth and then flown back to its Maker, but not before 
it had left a mark on our hearts, which will never be efifaced. 

All the months of waiting, sleepless nights and ])ain had residted 
in nothing but a sense of loneliness. 

Particidarly that morning had I sensed her des])ondency as I 
wished her goodby. telling her I would try to get ofi^ in time to take a 
jaimt out to the Lake Front, for the heat was intense. 




"business street lighted by electroliers" 



I little knew events were ?o shaping" themselves that 1 could ex- 
perience the pleasure of seeing ni\- wile restored to health with lillle 
expense. 

Miles, our Iowa man, had been stricken with heat in his home the 
other side of Chicago, his western route still uncanvassed. No one 
seemed anxious to iinish his territory for most of the towns left were 
beyond the railroad, that is to say after reaching a certain town, the 
limit of that particular railway branch, one had to make the surrounding 
towns by team or auto, that being the only way they could be reached. 

I idly rememljered him speak of one such town named Decorah 
at the end of a Milvaukee Ihanch. which town he said had more points 
of interest to the mile than many another to ten, also that he intended 
to spend a week's vacation there some time. 

, Quick as a flash the thought came to try to get the job of finish- 




"damming the waters of the Oneota River' 



ing Miles' western route, and if I got it, to take jMarv to Dccorah, 
leaving her there while I made the surrounding towns, figuring that 
if the roads were good I could get back every evening. So that noon 
I hustled home with the plan. 

I explained the deal to her, asking her if she cared to go to the 
backwoods with me if I could get a chance at Miles' job. 

I had figured it would cost only a little more than a five spot to 
get her there, so if the tri|) did not do her any good 1 should not be 
oiU nuich. 

( )n her answering that she did not care, I hurried back again, and 
when the boss came in, I bearded the lion in the den, with the query: 
"Could I have a chance at Miles' job?" Receiving a growling reply 
that "if I thous:ht T could g-et the business," I answered "that I thoua:ht 



I could," and was given the lists and samples with directions to start 
right away, for "Miles was due." 

I felt unduly elated as I walked hcime, and it seemed to affect Mary 
to a certain degree, for she showed (|uite a little interest as she packed 
the two suitcases, and |;ut the few things of value we owned awa}' ; but 
bv the time she had gi\en a\\a\ the remains of food which would spoil 
in our absence, she was almost readv to change her mind and stay home. 

Hut I got her started. We cerlainl)- were not very comffjrtable 
in the day coach, ];ut the sleeper would not have been any more com- 
fortable, for it was so hot. 

I had taken tickets direct to Decorah, meaning to take in the other 
towns on my way back. We arrived at Calmar some time in the night, 
there we took a bed and rested till time to catch the second train to 
Decorah, so we were rested some ; still it was not till we were nearly 




"around Citizens Bank" 



there that Mary began to comment on the country we were passing 
through. 

It was worthy of comment too, field after fiehl of grain in shocks 
or falhng' vmder the reapers knife. Field after field of green rustling 
corn we passed, even the grass here was greener than that near Chi- 
cago. The stock in the pastures, in spite of the heat, looked slick and 
in good shape. 

Then through woods we went, with shade so thick that the sun 
barely flickered through the leaves, and anon with a roar we would 
pass over a little bridge which s])anned one of the many streams which 
found their wav to the crooked picturesque Oneota river, which we 
found later encircled more or less this little inland town of Decorah, 
as it nestled in a green valle}- like a liabe on its mother's lap, seemingly 
prQtected bv the wooded hills which surrounded tlie town. Almost all 




Court House 



kinds of trees grew on these hills. Here you could see a nia])le with 
leaves acjuiver, there a sturd}- oak would spread its branches alar, peep- 
ing thro' could be seen the white bark of the birch, and anon a stately 
pine would tower far above the lower trees as if trying to pierce the 
blue of the sky. 

As we stood on the platform of the Milwaukee Depot, 1 noticed 
Mary looking around. Then with a gasp she said : 

"How restful it is here, John. \\'e nuist be a thousand miles from 
a city." 

"Oh my no, we cannot be more than a fourth of that from Chicago."' 

"How lovely the hills are around here." 

Here the driver of a hack put his hand on our suitcases with some 
remark as to the merits of the "Winnesheik Hotel," arid impelled by 
his pressure we entered the hack which in less than enough time for us 





r> 


d^. 


1 


Ui 


1 , 


2BII 


Tt'i 


fSfr 


IW 


SUB 


in 


Slllj 




Government Post Orhcc 



to get seated stopped at the door of quite a g-raiul lookino- hotel which 
we found as imposing inside as out. But ( )h ! such good lioniev things 
we got to eat. Our room hooked over the oi)en scjuare roof porch, so 
the wind found its way to our heated bothes as we lay and rested till 
evening. 

After supper we went onto the street, and a ])rettier sight has never 
dawned on my eyes, may be, because I did not expect to see a small 
town lighted as this one was, or else the lack of noise and the clear air, 
enhanced the beauty of this long main business street lighted by elec- 
troliers, the ];)Ower for which is supplied by danmiing up the waters of the 
Oneota (or as it is sometimes called "The Upper Iowa River") a short 
distance from Decorah. 

Up and down we wandered, taking in the music of the "movies" 
of which there were three, admiring the massive front of the "Winne- 




The Cement Bnagc 



sheik Co. Bank", listening to the sweet chiming clock hung from the 
Portal of the "National Bank", then around the "Citizens Bank", to get 
a better view of the "Court House" and "Government Post Office." 

Everywhere plenty without ostentation seemed to spread its hands, 
lovers arm in arm walked slowly along the street, every one seemed to 
have time to live, different to the crowds on the streets of Chicago. 

After an hour or s(~» of this we re-entered the hotel. Going to our 
room we turned out the lights and stripped to cooler clothing, then 
seated by the open window with Mary's head on my shoulder we looked 
across the porch to the sky studded with stars content to be still, till 
i\Iary yawned sleepily, and I hoped that this night for once again she 
might sleep soundly and wake refreshed, something she had not done 
for months. 




"Home of the Flower^ 



Awaking- next nidrnino- about five, I found lier sound asleep, then 
closing the windows and pulling down the blinds, 1 quietly dressetl and 
descended to the lobl)v, requesting the clerk to give orders not to have 
my wife disturbed till she rang. He answered: "Here's Tilly. Tell 
her yourself." 

Turning, I saw a pleasant faced girl in whose hand T placed a trifle 
repeating my request, then I passed the time till breakfast was ready 
making inquiries as to the location of the different merchants whose 
names were on my list for Decorah. 

After a breakfast of ham and eggs I started out to get the business 
I had thought I could get — and I got it. 1 do not know whether it 
was on account of my intense admiration of the town and surroundings, 
or whether the merchants were reallv in need of all the things thev 



ordered then, an\\va\", l)y ten o'clock I had doul)led Miles" sales with 
all the merchants 1 had tackled. 

Thinking I had done a fair day's work, I rettirned to the hotel and 
up to our room, to find Mary just awakening. Sitting up at my entrance 
she pawned and asked : 

"Breakfast time?" 

"Lazy girl," 1 retorted, "it is nearly noon." 

"Really." 

"Yes, really. How do you feel?" 

"Fine. How quiet it is here!" 

"Are the natives all dead?" 

"Not on your tintype. They are all up and doing." 

"I have sold enough goods already to last me the rest of this week 




"uniiiue stairway cut right in tlio stone of the liill" 



in commissions, and I could not have done that unless they were very 
nuich alive." 

■'] lurry up old girl, while I go and see about a breakfast for von. 
I want to show you around some of these places the bovs were telling 
me of, guess we have struck a bonanza. A regular Free Show." 

Down in the lobl)_\- I was met with smiling countenances when I 
explained that my wife was just recovering from an illness. And could 
I bother some one to take up a cup of cofifee and an egg? 

"Sure thing." Then I entered into conversation with the clerk 
about train service, for the idea came to me to send in this sample of 
my ability to get the business, and astonish the boss, and at the same 
time ask for a couple of days for sight seeing. 

1')}' the time Mary was dressed and had breakfasted, I had my orders 
made out, and obligingly the clerk told me: 



"You can get tliciii into Chicago to-night if you can catch that 
noon train at Cahnar." 

"How?" 

"Get an Auto." 

"Oh, can I?" 

"I should say you could, as good a one as you can get an\\vhere." 

"Alright then, that is what I'll do. Will you go, Mary." 

"Yes, I should like to."" 

The clerk phoned, and in less than ten minutes there came an auto 
as clean and slick as if just from the factory. 

Marv and I entered, and enjoyed the ride immensely. I'p and 
down hills, thro" shadv lanes, and by verdant fields. On both sides of 
the road the farm houses were pretty and substantial; many of them 
on,e could see had all the modern improvements. Through many an 




"Such Views' 



open shed door, the auto could be seen ; showing the fanner around 
here was no backwoods man in regard to rigs. W'c arrived in plenty 
of time to send the letter, and while JMary rested in the hotel I did a 
little more business: then we dined and wended our way l)ack. 

Towards evening I hired a rig, and drove the length of "Water 
Street", thence across the "Cement liridge", along "Maple Avenue", 
stoi)])ing at the "Home of the Flowers'" where we purchased a huge 
bouquet of flowers for Mary's folks, and once again we crossed the 
Oneota river, which here is dammed to turn the "Tavener Mill." In 
three places less than three miles apart, this enterprising little stream 
is put to work for the good of man. 

On the "Tavener Bridge" we stoi)i)ed the horse to take in the long 
vista up and down stream, the water forming a small cataract as it falls 




To the Park 



ever the dam. C(nnpose(l mostly of liml)s and brush, then we ambled 
on, following the road regardless of where we w'ere going. 

Snddenly we were arrested by the sight of a natural curiosity in the 
shape of an inunense high rock isolated from the others, and shaped 
like a Pulpit. 

"Look," said Mary, just as I hollered "Whoa!" 

"Isn't that grand?" 

"That is where the "(]od of the River" stands to give his orders 
to the "Sons of Man"." said Mary. She was always visionary, but it did 
not need nmch stretching of the imagination to visualize that. 

After taking our till we went around what looked to us an impass- 
able road, but a passing stranger assured us we could get back to De- 
corah that wav, and as the horse was more than gentle we thought we 
would trv it. We found oiu'selves more than re])aid, for we came finally 




lu the Park 



to a made road, lmijt;ing' close to great liigh rocks on one side and 
shrinking' away from the edge of a stee|) dechne on the other side, 
which ran down to tliat same ever present ( )neota River. 

With a frisky horse it wonkl have l)een a nerve racking ride. As 
it was, I was glad to have the inside track, for I did not fancy a ttmihle 
down that wild rough descent. 

A slu^rt distance from Decorah we came upon a uni([ue stairway 
cut right in the stone of the hill. Nothing would do but Mar\- must 
find wheie it led, so out she got, telling me to wait. I was so enchanted 
with the interest she had shown all day after the legarth}- of the past 
six months that I would have sat there a week if she had asked me to. 
I confess I had begun to wonder if she were alright when she came in 
^ight down that stairway, her eyes aglow. 

"()h, John! Up there is a veritable gem of a place, and it's free. 




"that great Elk head with branching antlers" 



You never saw anything- like it. Such views! And such pretty seats. 
1 asked an old lady who it l)elonc^ed to and slie said: 

"Why this is the City T'ark." 

"Oh, we nnist go up there." 

"Alright, we will ; but not now. I am as hungry as a hawk, I could 
eat the side of a liouse." 

"I too, I have not been so hungry for a year." 

"Then back we go to the house of good treatment and plenty," 
I answered, clicking to the horse." 

* * * 

"No peace for the wicked I guess. So, if you are determined to 
go up to that Park to-night I suppose 1 shall have to take you." 

"Of course vou will, else I will get someone else. Tliere are ])lent\- 







■■ ■ --vV,*^^ 






Twin Bridges 



of nice young fellows in this town that would be pleased to take me 
there." 

"(Ill, oh! Is that so!" 1 answered smiling, "i believe we have 
struck the home of the "I'^lixir of Life", or was all that tired feeling put 
on "Mrs. JIarrus" to play ujjon my feelings? Let me tell \()U, that vou 
had me pretty well hipped xoung lad\' no longer ago than vesterday 
morning." 

"I cannot help it, John; my blood just bounds in my veins here. 
I am all alive." 

"Alright then, if }ou feel al)le." 

"How far is it?" 

"Have you incjuired?" 

"Yes. You go up to the "Court House," and one block farther, 
then straight up Broadway." 



• 






^^^^^1^ Mb It OEConnM, in 



"this energetic Oneota River" 



"Nice directions, I'm sure. But lead on, Mary mine, you for patii 
finder." 

We found it alright and never have we s]:)ent a more enjoyable 
evening-; it was some of a climb at last, but it was worth it. Here 
Mary's visualizing came into play, till she had me pretty near spooky, 
for at one point of view, I was sure I could see that great Elk head with 
its branching antlers, which turned out to be an old blasted tree way 
below on level. 

Neither heat, cold, storm, or fire could have kept us awake that 
night ; we were too sleepy to say good-night. I think I was asleep 
before I reached the bed, for we were surfeite<l with Ozone. 
* * * 

"Gee, that's some spiel from meuKiry, but I guess I may as well 
finish up that trip. What do you say, Mary " 



"Sure. It will be grand to read over these trips, when we g'et too 
old to make them any more ; and be sure you put the jiictnres away 
with it wlien \-ou get through, so we can look at those i)laces when we 
reatl about them." 

This was the answer I got from Mary, New Year's morning, after 
reading over the foregoing story of our trip to Decorah, the hapi)iest 
time we spent in itji^. 

It has l)een our custom to write our Remembrances at the close of 
each year since we have been marrietl. as Mary says, to read over when 
we get old: and for all Mary's ill health, and the loss of our little one 
I still think this year will show up prett}' well in those old days of ours 
when we resurrect this spiel. 

So to take U]) the thread of my story again, I awoke the next morn- 
ing- feeling like a new man and able to coax the bark off a hickory tree. 




The Ice Cave Road 



Telling Mary to take things easy for the day, I started for some 
little town out-a-ways thinking thus to sidetrack her sightseeing, for I 
was afraid she might overdo it. 

I did not succeed tho', I found, when 1 returned that evening. 
She had wandered down the other end of the town past the Rock Islantl 
Depot, where she informed me was a nice piece of railroad groimd 
on which they gave free concerts, then she had found the "Twin P)ri(lges" 
and the tliird mill wliich this energetic Oneota River supplies ])Ower for. 

Full to the rim and l)ul)l)ling over she was of the l)eauties of a 
road by a cave in which she was told icicles hung in suiumer and from 
whose yawning mouth steam issued in winter. She got me all fired 
up, so if the boss had not felt like giving me the time, I shcjuld have 
had to steal it. for I just had to see that cave. 




Dunning's Spring 



That evening we took in the "Movies" under the "Air Dome," and 
they showed pretty good pictures too, but we both could hardly keep 
awake. Sleep! I cannot see how it was we were so sleepy, I was ready 
to turn in by ten; and as for Mary, she could go to sleep now any time 
she laid down — outdoors or in. it made no difference. 1 found that 
out Sunday morning, the day we made our trip thro' the "Ice Cave 
Road," taking in as we went "Dunning's Spring" — another grand 
freak of nature. 

From a huge hole in the solid rock the clear limpid water flows 
down and down till it mingles its forces with the river. At one time 
it came with force enough to turn a mill ; it would not do so now, tho' 
its beauty is there just the same. 

'Twas here Mary showed her excess tendency to sleep, and 'twas 







"as it fell from one stone to another" 



here mv heart went up in thanks to him who made it possible for me 
to feel assured that my wife's brain would recover its poise. 

We had sat down under the shade of the trees near the side of 
the flowing water. Not a sound could l)e heard l)ut the murmur of the 
spring as it fell from one stone to another. 1 was thinking 1k3w nnich 
Mary had improved these few days, when 1 heard a snore ; she was 
asleep, her head on my knees. 

No one but those who have worried over a loved one whose ])rain 
and body had been slow I \' dviug for want of sleep can tell how ihanlsful 
I was for that sym])tom, and here 1 had paid out o\er five hundred 
dollars in the last six months to try to get that girl one natural niglit's 
sleep, when I could have gotten her here for a little more than a five 
spot, — and she sleeping like this already. 




The front entrance to the College. 



\Miat is one man's meat is another's poison alright. 

Poor old Miles. 1 wondered how he was. 

If it had not ])een for his injur), I niay])e might have lost Mary. 
That was what I was thinking when she opened her eyes just like a 
kid awakening. 

Smiling up at me as I joked her ahout snoring she said: 

"I am going to throw awa}- that dope the doctor gave me. I have 
not taken a drop since I came here ; and, I declare, if I stop moving, I 
fall asleep." 

That afternoon we drove up to the 'T^uther College," a large build- 
ing, with gvmnasium. museum, and large campus, and base ball grounds, 
where the boys have played some pretty strong games with visiting 
teams, 




3^initll"t»t.tJ«MS AND Do'nMlTORV i>ECO*»*H, iOWA, 



Large Campus 



The front entrance to the college is up a slight hill, but at the back 
the earth drops away in sheer descent in some places. Here across the 
fields is seen the ever lovely Oneota River. 

The early mail next day brought me a letter from the boss grant- 
ing my request with the words : "Any day you can send in an order 
of that size, ynn are entitled to two days ofif. Hope your wife's health 
is better." 

"Good old fellow! Sav, ]\Iar\', let's go over to the green house 
and get some flowers to send to the boss's wife." 

"Let's go to the woods and pick some wild ones," she answered. 

We did, and by the letter we got they were a treat. T guess all the 
wild Mcnvers die }oung in the city like the goml children. 

The day before we left Decorah we made a trip to "God's Acre," 




"God's acre! A truly lovely place' 



a truly lovely place. Years ago a rich man liy the name of Phelps had 
been as nmch entranced with the l^eauties of Decorah as Mary and I, 
for he had left a i;x)odly sum of iiKiney to kee]) up the cemetery, and at 
his re(jue^t his remains had been brought across the ocean so he could 
rest at last in that beautiful place of calm lovliness. 

I wish our little one could have rested there tot), but then, it does 
not make nnich ditTerence where this outer cloak is laid. 

In this place there was none of the dreariness of the usual burial 
places, instead it seems to keep before your eyes an everlasting im- 
pression that you oidy rest awhile, and who would not rest in that 
lovely spot. 

That night, the first time since we came to Decorah, we were 
touched, but we were only too glad to donate our mite. 




"for the erection of a hospital' 



A retired farmer, who evidently knows a good thing", had offered 
to give a large sum of money for the erection of a hospital, if tlie citizens 
would raise the needed deficiency, and I was glad of a chance to help 
along a good thing. 

If ever we are in need of a physician again in a hospital, there is 
where we shall go. It may be that there are better physicians than will 
l)e found there, but nowhere I know, would IMary'and I feel as assured 
that we should regain our health as we could in that lovely little inland 
town of Decorah where we spent the happiest time in our lives last 
August, 1 91 3. 

MINNIE TEWELL. 



P D 88 























o 






^^'' .■ 



'ov^ f^'^^B: "tz^o^ :^^'' '^ov^" °'^^::^e■'. '^^.^ 



^^-^^^ 



■^r. J^ \ '•'' y ""^P 






.f^ 



,0 



^^-^^^ 



^\ 



A. 























^^ 



"Of* 






,-iy^ ,\°J^^. ^-^ .0^- .•^:,>. -o. 











V 





.v 
















,^' 







V 




* -^^ 



A 



\ 



O N O 











DOBBSBROS. /* <^ A.^ 

BRARV BINDING ^.-^ •T^ ^"O 

CT 69^: XX ': 

r. AUGUSTINE XH* * 4-^ ^ 






